Chesed

Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 49B

Translation

Original

Our Sages taught: Gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) is greater than tzedakah in three ways: Acts of tzedakah involve only one’s money – gemilut chasadim can involve both money or one’s personal service. Tzedakah can be given only to the poor – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the rich and for the poor. Tzedakah can be given only to the living – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the living and the dead. [AJWS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. In what ways can acts of lovingkindness be done for the wealthy?
2. How can we add lovingkindness to our tzedakah?
3. How can we add lovingkindness to our foreign assistance policies? to our domestic policies?

Isaiah 16:5

Translation

Original

And a throne shall be established in goodness in the tent of David, and on it shall sit in faithfulness a ruler devoted to justice and zealous for equity. [JPS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. There is a vision here of a leader committed to justice and equity. In what ways are our leaders already doing this? In what ways are improvements still needed?

Psalms 9:9-10

Translation

Original

It is He who judges the world with righteousness, rules the peoples with equity. The LORD is a haven for the oppressed, a haven in times of trouble. [JPS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. What is an act of loving kindness? How is it unique compared to any good deed?
3. What social justice themes emerge from this text?

Mishna, Pe'ah 1:1

Translation

Original

These are the things for which there is no measure: the corner of the field [which is left for the poor], the first-fruits offering, the pilgrimage, acts of lovingkindness, and Torah learning. These are the things for which a person reaps the fruits in this world and his reward is in the world to come: honoring father and mother, acts of lovingkindness, bringing peace between people and the study of Torah is equal to them all. [AJWS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. In what ways are these things not measurable?
3. How does a person reap benefits from these acts?

Genesis Rabbah 8:5

Translation

Original

R. Simon said: When the Holy One, blessed be He, came to create Adam, the ministering angels formed themselves into groups and parties, some of them saying, ‘Let him be created,’ whilst others urged, ‘let him not be created.’ As it is written, "Lovingkindness and truth met, justice and peace kissed." (Psalms 85:11): Lovingkindness said, ‘Let him be created, because he will dispense acts of lovingkindness’; Truth said, ‘Let him not be created, because he full of lies’; Justice said, ' Let him be created, because he will perform acts of justice’; Peace said, ‘Let him not be created, because he is full of strife."’ What did God do? God held Truth and cast it to the ground, as it is written, "and truth will be sent to the earth." The ministering angels said before the Holy One, "Sovereign of the Universe! Why do you despise Thy seal? Let Truth arise from the earth!" Hence it is written, "Let truth spring up from the earth." (Psalms 85:12) All our Rabbis say the following in the name of R. Hanina, while R. Phinehas and R. Hilkiah say it in the name of R. Simon: Me'od (' very’) is [in reference to] Adam; as it is written, "And God saw everything that God had made, and, behold, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31), i.e. and behold Adam was good. R. Huna the Elder of Sepphoris, said: While the ministering angels were arguing with each other and disputing with each other, the Holy One created the first human. God said to them, "Why are you arguing. Man has already been made!" [AJWS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?
2. What power dynamics are at play?
3. The text calls on us to behave in certain ways that now that we've been created. What are those ways?

Deuteronomy Rabbah 5:1

Translation

Original

R. Simeon b. Gamliel said: Do not make mock of justice, for it is one of the three legs upon which the world stands. Why? For the Sages have taught: On three things the world rests: on justice, on truth, and on peace. Know then full well that if you wrest judgment, you shake the world, for it is one of its pillars. [Soncino translation]